Steam-generator.



No. 643,54I. Patented Feb. I3, 1900.

s. DER. DE SALES.

STEAM GENERATOR.

(Application Bled Feb. 14, 1899.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

me mms nass wnpmuruo.. WASHINGTON, 74 c,

No. 643,54l. Patented Feb. I3, |900. G. DE n. DE SALES.

STEAM GENERATOR.

(Application led Feb. 14, 1899.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-*Sheet 2I ah/fesses! 7n/efr far Gea/yeeoasyfles UNITED STATES PATENT Trios.

GEORGES DE ROUSSY DE SALES, OF LYONS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO M. LOUIS i GIRARD, OF* SAME PLACE.

STEAMG EN ERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'643,541, dated February 13, 1900. Application filed February 14, 1899. Serial No. 705,506. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GEoRGEsDnRoUssYDE SALES', a citizen of France, residing at Lyons, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vaporizers or Steam- Generators, of which the following is a speciiication.

The object of this invention is to provide 'a vaporizer or steamgenerator which will '1o rapidly vaporize liquids and generate perfectly-dry steam.

In order that my invention may be easily understood, I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

I5 which- Figure l is a longitudinal axial section of 'an elem-ent of myimproved steam-generator. Fig. 2 shows a view of the same, its outer casing being removed. Fig. 3 shows a similar zo view of the casing.. Fig. 4 illustrates a detail of the mats. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate any modifications which may be applied to the construction of my steam-generator with- Iout departing from the present invention.

A Vaporizer or steam-generator constructed according to this invention comprises interchangeable elements in the form of chambers, tubes, or cells. According to one arrangement two metal tubes a, b, Fig. 1`, of 3o elliptical or other shape in cross-section, are

bolted together end to end, with a plate c interposed between the adjacent ends and provided with a valve d. The outer ends of these tubes are closed by plates e and g, each carrying a pipej'and h, one, f, leading to afeedpump and the other, 7L, leading to a steam-` superheater.

Each of the elliptical tubes a and b contains a mat, Fig. 4, formed of compressed asbestos 4o threads t, intertwined or plaited with Wire. Layers of this compressed asbestos inclosed in cases j, of thin metal, are bound together by staples 7c, which serve not only to hold them together to form a mat, but also serve as a handle by which they can be conveniently placed in and removed from the tube. It

will be understood that any other material having similar physical properties may be substituted for the asbestos-such, for ex- 5o ample, as slag-wool, spun glass, or the like.

The ,following are a few experiments illustrative of the function of the mats of asbestos fiber properly arranged, some derived from vaporizers as a means for regulating the production oflsteam or vapor, whatever may be the ultimate object of such steam or vapor and whatever be the nature of the liquid that is vaporized.

' First. Seven grams of asbestos absorb ten grams of water-that is to say, that, as regards 6o volume, asbestos very nearly absorbs its own volume of water.

Second. A mat formed of plaited asbestos cord inclosed in a thin metal case and uniformly heated causes vapor or steam to be evolved in a uniform manner and proportionately to the length of time during which the heating is continued. With seven grams of asbestos as much as five grams of water has been vaporized in one minute. 7o

Third. If the case wherein the mat-asbestos is placed be brought first to a red heat and then to a white heat, so that as a result of such heating the mat is perfectly dry, and the case be then sprinkled with water, the said water will be immediately ashed into steam; but if through an opening made in the case, so as to expose the asbestos, water be poured onto the latter material, the water will not be suddenly converted into vapor, 8o but the asbestos will convert the water into steam at the rate determined at the outset with regard to the source of heat that is made use of, so that by taking care to admit a quantity of water below the maximum supplyt'. e. given an intense heat and a seven-grams mat ve grams per minute-a uniform supply of dry steam will be obtained.

Fourth. Calcareous and other deposit from the water collects in the asbestos ber in a 9o pulverulent state without forming any incrustaticns and leaving the walls of the tubes and mat-cases unimpaired.

Fifth. Asbestos is liable to little or no expansion.

Sixth. Boilers fitted with asbestos in accordance with this invention may be rapidly put under pressure.

Seventh. A complete division of the liquid is effected. roo

In the following description water will vbe referred to as the liquid to be vaporized, al-

though it is to be understood that other liquids can be similarly vaporized.

The water to be vaporized is continuously introduced into one of the elliptical tubes a by a pipe f in connection with the feed-pu mp, which latter serves to continuously force the feed-water through said pipe into the tube. The tubes (L l) can be heated from any available source of heatfor instance, a furnace. The water thus admitted to the tube saturates the mat of asbestos j contained therein, which mat acts as a wick and divides the water by capillarity, and instantaneous vaporization of the water is the result. The vapor as it is generated passes from this tube a through the valve in the separating-plate into the connected tube b in the condition of moist steam and is therein dried, the dry steam passing from this tube into a superheater through the pipe 7L. Thus it will be seen that the effect produced by the matsjj is to store up and distribute the heat which is transmitted to them by the heated tubes a l), and consequently1 materially increase the heatingsurface.

The valved interposed between the tubes a and l) prevents the steam returning to the tubeinto which the water is admitted. A fresh supply of water may now be admitted into the tube d; but the steam which is produced therefrom cannot enter the other tube l) until a pressure is produced sufficient to open the valve d, so that if the elements be adequately proportioned the pressure varies but slightly.

Several elements constructed as described may be connected together by a pipe or hollow hand-rail Z, Fig. 2, having one end closed and its other end in connection with the superheater m. The superheaterm mayconsist of a liattened tube larger than the tubes a and b, constituting the element and provided with a mat of asbestos or the like. It can be heated by the waste heat of the combustion gases; and its object is to thoroughly dry the steam before it is conducted by the pipe n to the machines or place where it is to be utilized. The several element-s may be also connected by a single pipe or hollow hand-rail o to the feed-puin p. The said feed-pipe ois provided with a non-return valve p to prevent the water from flowing back. The connections may be provided with valves or plugs, so that any one or more of the connected elements can be cut out of the system when required.

IVhen it is desired to clean any one of the elements, the end plate thereof is detached, and then the mat can be taken out, brushed, and put back and the end plate be then replaced.

In constructing a boiler or vaporizer with asbestos or like mats the elements may be arranged vertically in semicircular series in front of a blowpipe and the superheater be placed at the rearward end thereof, the whole being inclosed in a suitable sheet-metal case. The steam-drying portion b of each element may be inclined toward the flame of the heating device instead of joining the tubes end to end in a straight line.

A more advantageous form of the asbestosmat boiler or vaporizer consists in arranging the elements horizontally, Fig. 2, so as to form an arch and providing a burner q, which will direct a flame into the arch to heat the elements, the superheater m being arranged on top of the elements and heated by the gases that have passed between the several elements a and b, the whole structure being inclosed in a sheet-metal case r, Fig. 3, forming a shell and provided with handles s, so as to constitute a portable boiler. The casing is provided with inlets o for air to support combustion and with a chimney t for the escape of the waste products of combustion, a safetyvalve u, Fig. 2, being also provided.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate any variations which may be applied in constructing a steamgenerator according to the present invention. In these ligures vthe same letters of reference indicate the parts similar to those above described. Instead of forming the elements of elliptical tubes, as hereinbefore described, each element may consist of two cylindrical tubes d b, Fig. 5, arranged concentrically one within the other, with an annular Space between them to contain compressed asbestos liber. The said annular space is divided in its length by a partition cinto two compartments, the outer ends being closed by removable plates and the partition being provided with two or more valves d. One end of each of the elements is connected to a water-feed pipe or main o, which may constitute a hand-rail, while the other end of each element is similarly connected by a pipe Z to the steam-main. The operation of these elements is the same as that of the elements hercinbefore described. The elements may be of any shape so long as they afford as large a heating-surface as possible, and they may be arranged in any convenient manner. The products of combustion after having acted on the elements externally pass internally through the same and then away by a suitably-arranged iiue or chimney.

Instead of arranging the two tubes a and l) constituting the element end to end or dividing the annular space between two concentric tubes by a partition, as hereinbefore described, the said tubes may be arranged side by side, Fig. 6, the ends of the tubes being connected together by pipes, so that the steam or vapor is caused to travel in a circuitous or zigzag direction through the several elements. In this manner the joints are not exposed to heat.

The vaporizer may be constructed after the manner of a multitubular boiler. In this case, Fig. 7, the ends of the outer tube Z) of the two concentric tubes constituting each element are riveted to perforated plates w and the inner tubes a are each perforated from one end to the other end, one of which IIO ends is closed, and around the said inner tube is wound an asbestos cord.

The several elements are arranged in sets or series, coupled together in any well-known manner, so that the steam' or vapor passes inl a circuitous or vzigzag direction through the sets of elements, whereby the available heat is most advantageously utilized.

One of the perforated plates a: ar, to which the elements are riveted, forms a wall or side of a water-tank o, into which 4water under pressure is introduced by the pipe f. This water passes from the tank into the perforated tubes of the lower tier of elements and through the perforations therein to the asbestos in the annular space between the inner and outer tubes. The perforations in the tubes are of gradually-reduced size from the ends where the water enters to the closed ends of the said tubes. The water admitted is eventually convertedinto steam, which steam passes into a coupling-box y, which connects the lowermost tier of elements with the next tier above, and thence into the perforated tube a of the said second tier of elements and through the perforations of such tube into the asbestos surrounding the same, wherein it undergoes the first stage of desiccation. It then passes into a coupling-box w at the opposite end of the tier of elements, thence into the perforated tubes of the third tier of elements,and in the same manner passes through the perforations and through the asbestos of this tier of elements, where it undergoes a further desiccation, and so on through any desired number of tiers of elements. As the steam or vapor leaves the last tier of elements it is stored up in a Chamberlin readiness for use.

The lower tier of elements serves to vaporize the water, While ineach of the remaining tiers the steam is successively dried more and more and superheated, the carrying away of any water along with the steam being thus rendered practically impossible.

Instead of inserting a perforated tube a in the outer tube b of the element I may line such outer tubeb with asbestos in any convenient form and dispense with the said inner tube a, the water being in this case admitted directly onto the asbestos.

The coupling-boxes y and w, by which the tiers are connected, are provided with stoppered peep-holes e', which serve both for the inspection of the tubes and for removing and replacing or renewing the asbestos when required. The pressure increases with a very great rapidity and may attain two kilograms in less than two minutes after lighting. In

short, the use of an asbestos lining in steamgenerators of any kind affords the following absolutely dry and superheated steam, to increase the heating-surface, and to afford a regular and rapid vaporization and a production of vapor nearly double that which the same generator would produce if not lined with asbestos, thus giving a generator which is not heavy in weight, portable,and producing regularly and rapidly a dry and superheated vapor.

It will be seen that in each formof my invention the vaporizing tubes or chambers are completely filled with asbestos arranged in special suitable forms, and the feed-water is continuously forced in, and the asbestos acts mechanically to separate the water into small molecules or particles, increasing the surface of the water in contradistinction to increasing the surface of the heater. In my invention the asbestos is not designed to increase the heating-surface or caloric power.

The shape of the boiler or vaporizer may, without departing from the invention, be modified to suit varying requirements and more especially with a view to fitting it for purposes of distillation for heating appliances and the like, the essential feature being the use of asbestos or other like material in any convenient form and arranged in any convenient position for the reception of the liquid to be heated, vaporized, or distilled.

What I claim isl. A steam-generator, comprising a heating-chamber, a feed-water pipe connected with the latter and by which the feed-water may be continuously forced thereinto, and a mat iilling said heating-chamber and composed of compressed asbestos interlaced and held by wire, the asbestos mat, when heated, absorbing the feed-water, separating it into small molecules or particles and converting the same into vapor within said heatingchamber, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-generator, the combination of two metal tubes d, b secured end to end and each completely filled with asbestos, a pipe f connected with the end of one tube and by which the feed-water may be continuously forced thereinto, and a pipe h leading from the end of the other tube to connect with-a superheater, substantially as and for the purpose described'.

In testimony whereof I .have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. f

GEORGES DE ROUSSY DE SALES. Witnesses:

L. GIRARD, M. VACHON.

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